Geneva, 22 January 2024 (dpa/MIA) - WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus fears that a planned pandemic agreement may not happen.

Designed to protect the world from chaos like at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the agreement is to be adopted at the World Health Assembly in Geneva at the end of May.

"But I must say I am gravely concerned that member states may not meet that commitment. Time is very short, and there are several outstanding issues that remain to be resolved," Tedros explained on Monday in Geneva at a meeting of the WHO Executive Board.

"It will take courage, and it will take compromise. You will not reach consensus if everyone remains entrenched in their positions.
Everyone will have to give something, or no one will get anything," he added.

The planned agreement is a revision of the International Health Regulations, which govern the handling of new diseases.

Among the issues the controversial 30-page draft agreement covers is how information about new pathogens is shared quickly, who manufactures vaccines and drugs and where, and how they are distributed. Patent protection for vaccines and medicines is a sticking point.

Wealthy countries have criticized the fact that they would be required to disclose details about the funding of research and that pharmaceutical companies would be required to provide price transparency.

Even if the treaty is adopted, it would only come into force if enough countries ratify it and would only be valid in those countries.

Wealthy countries have criticized the fact that they would be required to disclose details about the funding of research and that pharmaceutical companies would be required to provide price transparency.

MIA file photo